AP Gov't Ch. 2 Flashcards
Constitution
A nations basic laws.
Declaration of Independence
The document approved by the representatives of the American colonies in 1776 that stated their grievances against the British monarch and declared their independence.
Natural Rights
Rights inherent in human beings which include life, liberty, and property.
Consent of the Governed
The idea that derives its authority by the sanction of the people.
Limited Government
The idea that certain restrictions should be placed of government to protect the natural rights of citizens.
Articles of Confederation
The first constitution of the U.S, adopted by congress in 1777 and enacted in 1781. Established a national legislature, the Continental Congress, but most authority rested with the states legislature.
Shay’s Rebellion
A series of attacks on court houses by a small band of farmers led by Rev. War Cpt. Daniel Shays to block foreclosure proceedings.
U.S. Constitution
The document written in 1787 and ratified in 1788 that sets forth the structure of the U.S. government and the tasks these institutions perform.
Factions
Parties/Interest Groups that James Madison saw as arising from the unequal distribution of property/wealth and attacked as having the potential to cause instability in the government.
New Jersey Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention that called for equal representation of each state in Congress regardless of the state’s population.
Virginia Plan
The proposal at the Constitutional Convention That called for representation of each state in Congress in proportion to that state’s share of the U.S. population.
Connecticut Compromise (The Great)
The compromise reached at the Constitutional Convention that established two houses of Congress. Senate- Each state gets two Reps. House of Reps- Reps. based on population.
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.
Separation of Powers
A feature of the Const. that requires each of the three branches to be relatively independent of the others so that one cannot control the other. Power is shared among them.
Checks and Balances
Features of the Const. that limit government’s power by requiring that power be balanced among the different branches. These branches continually constrain one another’s activities.
Republic
A form of government in which the people select representatives to govern them and make laws.
Federalists
Supporters of the U.S. Const. at the time the states were contemplating its adoption.
Anti-Federalist
Opponents of the American Const. at the time when the states were contemplating its adoption.
Federalist Papers
A collection of 85 articles written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison under the name “Publius” to defend the Const. in detail.
Bill of Rights
The first 10 amendments of the U.S. Const.
Equal Rights Amendment
A Const. amendment passed by Congress in 1972 stating that “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the U.S. or by any state on account of sex.”
Marbury v. Madison
The 1803 case in which the Sup. Court asserted its right to determine the meaning of the U.S. Const. (Judicial Review)
Judicial Review
THe power of the courts to determine whether acts of Congress and, by implication, the execution are in accord with the U.S. Const.
